Practices

Bar Admissions

Chie Yakura is a partner in the firm’s Litigation Department. She represents both non-Japanese and Japanese corporations in a wide range of complex litigation matters with an emphasis on intellectual property, technology transactions and trade secrets, antitrust/competition law, as well as cross-border contractual and commercial disputes and product liability matters. Ms. Yakura also focuses on anti-corruption and compliance matters and conducts internal investigations. She has handled cases in a variety of industries, including software, hardware, consumer electronics, pharmaceuticals, biotechnology, transportation, real estate and manufacturing.

Ms. Yakura is recognized in the current edition of Chambers Global (2018) and is a “Recognised Practitioner” in Chambers Asia Pacific (2019) for Dispute Resolution. She has been named to the Best Lawyers list for Japan in the area of intellectual property since the 2010 edition. She is recommended in Antitrust and Competition Law and Dispute Resolution and ranked as a “Leading Individual” in Intellectual Property by The Legal 500 Asia Pacific 2019 edition. Ms. Yakura was also selected as an “IP Star” for the 2017–2019 editions of Managing Intellectual Property’s World IP Survey.

Ms. Yakura received her LL.B. from Kyoto University in 1999 and graduated from the Legal Training and Research Institute of the Supreme Court of Japan in 2000. Ms. Yakura also received an LL.M. from Columbia Law School in 2005 and an LL.M. in international business law from the University of London, London School of Economics and Political Science in 2006.

Ms. Yakura is a bengoshi, admitted to practice in Japan in 2000. She is also a benrishi (patent attorney) in Japan and admitted in New York.

Ms. Yakura is a member of the Dai-ichi Tokyo Bar Association, the Japan Patent Attorneys Association and the American Bar Association.

Key Investigation MattersInvestigation of Japanese subsidiary of a global pharmaceutical company regarding allegations of employee involvement with independent post-marketing clinical studies; investigation of Japanese subsidiary of a global medical device company regarding power harassment issues; and investigation of one of the world’s largest electric commerce companies in connection with the Japan Fair Trade Commission’s dawn raid regarding allegedly anti-competitive business practices.

Smartphone LitigationMember of team that successfully handled high-profile smartphone cases in Japan.

Dell v. Nisseicom, Sanshin Electronics and Chiyodagumi(Tokyo District Court). Representation of Dell in a series of contract disputes totaling $100 million in Tokyo District Courts.

A major European pharmaceutical company v. a major American pharmaceutical company(Japan Patent Office and Japan IP High Court). Representation of a major European pharmaceutical company in IP High Court appeals and separate invalidity trials in front of the Japan Patents Office regarding assays for the detection of Hepatitis C.

Colgate-Palmolive v. Palermo(Osaka District Court and Osaka High Court). Representation of Colgate-Palmolive in a products liability case before the Osaka District Court and the Osaka High Court involving Hill’s Science Diet pet food.

Limerick v. Togo Shrine, et al., Colgate-Palmolive v. Palermo(Tokyo District Court and Tokyo High Court). Representation of Limerick in a $700 million dispute regarding the construction of an office tower complex in Tokyo District Court and Tokyo High Court.

A major American hardware and software manufacturer v. Nishiyama(Japan Patent Office). Representation of a major American hardware and software manufacturer in a patent infringement case before the Japan Patent Office.

UPS v. SuntoryRepresentation of UPS in a dispute involving international transportation of goods.

Albemarle v. Kaneko Chemicals(Tokyo District Court; Japan IP High Court and Japan Patent Office). Representation of Albemarle Corp. in a patent infringement case on chemical products in Tokyo District Court.

Motorola v. Vertel Communication Systems(Tokyo District Court). Representation of Motorola’s Japanese subsidiary in a preliminary injunction case involving termination of distributorship before Tokyo District Court.

AIG v. Orix(Tokyo District Court). Representation of AIG in a series of disputes regarding real estate transactions with a value of more than $100 million in Tokyo District Court.

Applied Biosystems v. Illumina(Japan Patent Office). Representation of Applied Biosystems in a JPO proceeding involving a dispute on ownership of Japanese patents.

Acushnet v. Bridgestone Sports(IP High Court). Representation of Acushnet in a patent infringement case before the Japan IP High Court.

Seagate v. Leap(Tokyo District Court). Representation of Seagate in a damages case involving alleged termination of distributorship agreement before Tokyo District Court.

Key Investigation MattersInvestigation of Japanese subsidiary of a global pharmaceutical company regarding allegations of employee involvement with independent post-marketing clinical studies; investigation of Japanese subsidiary of a global medical device company regarding power harassment issues; and investigation of one of the world’s largest electric commerce companies in connection with the Japan Fair Trade Commission’s dawn raid regarding allegedly anti-competitive business practices.

Smartphone LitigationMember of team that successfully handled high-profile smartphone cases in Japan.

Dell v. Nisseicom, Sanshin Electronics and Chiyodagumi(Tokyo District Court). Representation of Dell in a series of contract disputes totaling $100 million in Tokyo District Courts.

A major European pharmaceutical company v. a major American pharmaceutical company(Japan Patent Office and Japan IP High Court). Representation of a major European pharmaceutical company in IP High Court appeals and separate invalidity trials in front of the Japan Patents Office regarding assays for the detection of Hepatitis C.

Colgate-Palmolive v. Palermo(Osaka District Court and Osaka High Court). Representation of Colgate-Palmolive in a products liability case before the Osaka District Court and the Osaka High Court involving Hill’s Science Diet pet food.

Limerick v. Togo Shrine, et al., Colgate-Palmolive v. Palermo(Tokyo District Court and Tokyo High Court). Representation of Limerick in a $700 million dispute regarding the construction of an office tower complex in Tokyo District Court and Tokyo High Court.

A major American hardware and software manufacturer v. Nishiyama(Japan Patent Office). Representation of a major American hardware and software manufacturer in a patent infringement case before the Japan Patent Office.

UPS v. SuntoryRepresentation of UPS in a dispute involving international transportation of goods.

Albemarle v. Kaneko Chemicals(Tokyo District Court; Japan IP High Court and Japan Patent Office). Representation of Albemarle Corp. in a patent infringement case on chemical products in Tokyo District Court.

Motorola v. Vertel Communication Systems(Tokyo District Court). Representation of Motorola’s Japanese subsidiary in a preliminary injunction case involving termination of distributorship before Tokyo District Court.

AIG v. Orix(Tokyo District Court). Representation of AIG in a series of disputes regarding real estate transactions with a value of more than $100 million in Tokyo District Court.

Applied Biosystems v. Illumina(Japan Patent Office). Representation of Applied Biosystems in a JPO proceeding involving a dispute on ownership of Japanese patents.

Acushnet v. Bridgestone Sports(IP High Court). Representation of Acushnet in a patent infringement case before the Japan IP High Court.

Seagate v. Leap(Tokyo District Court). Representation of Seagate in a damages case involving alleged termination of distributorship agreement before Tokyo District Court.

Ms. Yakura is recognized in the current edition of Chambers Global (2018) and is a “Recognised Practitioner” in Chambers Asia Pacific (2019) for Dispute Resolution. She has been named to the Best Lawyers list for Japan in the area of intellectual property since the 2010 edition. She is recommended in Antitrust and Competition Law and Dispute Resolution and ranked as a “Leading Individual” in Intellectual Property by The Legal 500 Asia Pacific 2019 edition. Ms. Yakura was also selected as an “IP Star” for the 2017–2019 editions of Managing Intellectual Property’s World IP Survey.

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